Soft-tread horseshoe.



' No. 684,4I6. Patented Oct. l5, I90l. B. J. DOWNEY.

' SOFT TBEAD HORSESHOE.

(Application led Hat. 14, 1901.)

(No Model.)

y C. E 3 a UNrTED STATES vPnTnnrr OFFICE.

BRIAN J. DOVVNEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

so FT-TREAD Ho'RsEsl-los.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 684,416, dated. October15, 1901.

Application filed March 14, 1901. Serial No. 51,135. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, BRIAN J. DOWNEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented newand useful Improvements in Soft- Tread Horseshoes, of which thefollowing is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in horseshoes, and has for it-sgeneral object to provide a soft-tread horseshoe comprising a metallicbody adapted to be connected to a liorses hoof like the ordinaryhorseshoe, a pad of vulcanized rubber or other elastic material, andstrong and durable means for connecting the pad to the body, such meansbeing adapted to permit of the pad being readily connected to the bodyand as readily disconnected therefrom when it is desired to replace itwith a new pad, and this Without liability of the pad becoming loose orbeing casually disconnected while the shoe is in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a soft-treadhorseshoe in which the pad, usually formed of vulcanized rubber, isprevented from contacting with a horses hoof and an air-space isafforded between the pad and hoof, this being materially advantageous,because the pad is effectually prevented from heating and causingrotting of the hoof, which is the objection usually urged againstsoft-tread horseshoes.

Another object is to provide a horseshoe of the kind stated the metallicbody of which is equipped with a toe portion calculated to enable ahorse to secure a good foothold in pulling notwithstanding theemployment of the elastic pad.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully understoodfrom the following description and claims when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective viewillustrating my improved shoe as applied to a horses hoof, the hoofbeing shown by broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by thebroken line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the metallicbody of the shoe as it appears precedent to being connected to a horseshoof. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the pad removed. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal central section of the metallic body, taken in the planeindicated by the broken line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a section of thepad, taken on the broken line 6 6 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is a detailsection taken in the plane indicated by the broken line 7 7 of Fig. l.

In the said drawings similar letters of reference designatecorresponding parts in all of the several views, referring to which- Ais the metallic body of my improved shoe, which is of the generalconfiguration common to horseshoes. The said body is preferably formedin one piece and comprises a horizontally-disposed U-shaped portion ct,adapted to be placed against a horses hoof and connected thereto bynails h, driven through holes c, and a iange d, which depends from theouter edge of the horizontal portion a, as shown. Said flange in thepreferred embodiment of the invention extends throughout theintermediate portion of the body to points adjacent to the ends thereofand is provided with a forward portion e of increased width, whichconstitutes a toe, an aperturefin its forward portion immediately belowthe horizontal portion d, and bifurcations g in its rear ends in a planeimmediately below the portion a. The lower rear end portions h of theflange formed by the bifurcations g are preferably bent slightlyoutward, as best shown in Fig. 3, to permit of the ready introduction ofthe pad within the flange and are adapted to be then bent inwardlyagainst the side edges of the pad to assist in holding the same inposition, as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

B is the pad, which, as before stated, may be formed of vulcanizedrubber or any other suitable elastic material, although the vulcanizedrubber is the preferred material. The said pad is vulcanized on orotherwise suitably connected to a metallic plate C, which has its upperside iush with that of the pad and is provided with aforwardly-extending arm 7l and laterally-extending arms j, all of whichreach beyond the pad, as best shown in Fig. 4, and are adapted when thepad is applied to the body A to take into the aperture f andbifurcations g of said body and be bent up against a horses hoof afterthe manner shown in Fig. 1. The pad B is preferably concave at its underside, as

IOO

best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, so as to enable it to take secure hold ofthe ground by reason of suction and is preferably provided at about thepoints shown on its edge with protuberances D, which when the pad isplaced in the body A are adapted to take into and rest in seats kin theange dthereof. These protuberances are calculated to prevent injury to ahorse in case of interference.

In practicing my invention the body'A is nailed to a horses hoof in thesame manner as an ordinary horseshoe or is otherwise suitably connectedthereto. The pad bearing the plate C is then introduced into the bodyfrom the rear and so that the arm or clipvlenters the aperturef of thebody Iiange, and the arms or clipsj enter the bifurcations g of thebody, and also so that the protuberances D on the pad take into theseats 7c. With this done the rear portions h of the flange d are bentinwardly until they rest against the pad and ush with the outer edge ofthe body portion a, and the clips t' j are bent upwardly and inwardlyagainst the horses hoof, when the pad will be securely fixed in the bodyand held against casual disconnection therefrom and also againstbecoming loose. Vhen, however, the pad is worn and it is necessary toreplace the same with a new pad, the same may be readily accomplished bybending the clips 'i j down into a horizontal position and the flangeportions 72 outwardly and then sliding the pad rearwardly out ofengagement with the body to give place to a new pad, which is adjustedand connected tothe body in the manner before described.

When my improved shoe is applied to a horses hoof in the mannerdescribed, the pad B is held away from the hoof by the metallic portiona of the body, and an air-space, open at the rear, is aorded between thepad and the hoof. This is materially advantageous, since the rubber ofwhich the pad is generally formed is effectually prevented from heatingand causing rotting of the hoof.

The pad B is obviously calculated to thoroughly cushion the horses hoofand insure a secure foothold, while the toe e of the metallic body A isadapted to enable the horse to take secure hold of the roadway inpulling, and this notwithstanding the employment of the pad. The toe eof bodyA is also adapted in practice to prevent undue wear of the toeportion of the pad.

When desirable, nails. E, which may be plain or barbed, are employed asan additional means for securing the rubber pad in the metallic body.These nails take through apertures m in the body-ange cl and into thepad after the manner clearly shown in Fig. 2.

I have entered into a detail description of the construction andrelative arrangement of the parts embraced in the present and preferredembodimentf my invention in order to impart a full, clear, and exactunderstanding of the same. I do not desire, however,

to be understood as confining myself to such` be made in practice asclearly fall within the Y scope of my claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

l. A soft-tread horseshoe comprising a metallic body adapted to beconnected to a horses hoof and having openings, and apad provided withclips arranged to enter said openings in the body and adapted to be bentagainst the outside of said body so as to connect the pad thereto. y

2. A soft-tread horseshoe comprising a metallic body adapted to beconnected to a horses hoof, and having the rear portions 71, separatedby bifurcations from its main portion, and also having a dependingforward portion provided with an opening, and a pad provided with clipsarranged to enter the bifurcations and openingin the body and adapted tobe bent against the outside of said body so as to connect the padthereto; said pad be- ,Y

ing also adapted to be held by the portions h of the body when saidportions are bent inwardly.

3. A soft-tread horseshoe comprising a metallic body having a horizontalportion, and a ange depending therefrom and provided with an opening inits forward portion and bifurcations in its ends, a pad, and a platecon- ICO nected to the pad and having clips extended beyond the same andarranged to enter the opening and bifurcations of the body; the saidclips being adapted to be bent against the outside of the body, and therear lower portions of the flange of the body, formed by thebifurcations, being adapted to be bent against the pad.

4. A soft-tread horseshoe comprising a metallic body adapted to beconnected to a horses hoof and having openings, a pad, andY a platesecured to the pad and provided with portions arranged to enter theopenin gs in the body and adapted to be bent against the outside of saidbody to connect the pad thereto.

5. A soft-tread horseshoe comprising a metallic body having a U-shapedhorizontallydisposed portion, and a flange dependingv therefrom andprovided with openings, a pad of rubber or other suitable materialarranged Within the iiange and at the under side of the horizontalportion of the bod y whereby an air- Y space, open at the rear, isafforded between it and a horses hoof, and clips on the pad arranged toenter the openings in the bodyflange and adapted to be bent against theoutside of the body to connect the pad thereto.

6. A soft-tread horseshoe comprising a metallic body adapted to beconnected to a horses hoof and having a horizontal portion, and'a iiangedepending vtherefrom and provided with seats 7c, a pad arranged withinthe 1roV flange of the body and having protuberances on its edge restingin the seats of said flange and projecting laterally outward beyond thesame, and suit-able means for connecting the pad to the body.

7. A soft-tread horseshoe comprising a lnetallic body having ahorizontal portion, and a iiange depending from the outer edge of thehorizontal portion, and having a forward portion of increased widthconstituting a toe, and also having an opening in its forward portionand bifurcations in its ends, a pad arranged below the horizontalportion of the body and within the flange thereof, and a plate securedto the pad and having portions extended beyond the same and adapted toenter the opening and bifurcations in the flange of the body and be bentagainst the outside of said body.

S. A soft-tread horseshoe comprising a inetallic body adapted to beconnected to a horses hoof and having a horizontal portion and a angedepending therefrom and pro- BRIAN J. DOWNEY.

Witnesses:

GRAFTON L. MCGILL, THOMAS E. TURPIN.

